The Art of Fooling: How Nitin Gadkari Masters the Craft and Why IITs and IIMs Should Offer a Degree in It

How Nitin Gadkari Masters the Craft and Why IITs and IIMs Should Offer a Degree in It

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the grand theater of Indian politics, where promises are spun like silk and deadlines dance a merry jig of postponement. At the center stage stands Nitin Gadkari, the maestro of mirthful misdirection, whose latest act—proclaiming that Indian roads will rival America’s by 2027—has left audiences chuckling and scratching their heads in equal measure. This isn’t just politics; it’s performance art, a masterclass in the age-old Indian tradition of fooling the masses with such finesse that it deserves a pedestal in academia. It’s high time IITs and IIMs introduce a course titled “The Art of Fooling: Leadership Lessons from the Gadkari Playbook.”

The Gadkari Trilogy: A Comedy of Errors

Let’s rewind the reel. In 2020, Gadkari, with the confidence of a seasoned magician, waved his wand and declared Indian roads would mirror America’s by 2022. When 2022 rolled around with potholes still reigning supreme, he recalibrated his spell, pushing the deadline to 2024. Now, in 2025, as we navigate the same bumpy terrain, he’s extended the grand reveal to 2027. This isn’t a failure of infrastructure—it’s a trilogy worthy of Bollywood, with each sequel outdoing the last in audacity.

Roshan (June 9, 2025) nails it: “If fooling is an art, Gadkari is the Modi of it.” The sarcasm is palpable, and the public’s response—a mix of laughter and resigned sighs—proves this is no mere gaffe but a polished routine.

The Science of Deception: A Historical Masterpiece

Fooling, in India, isn’t new. It’s an art form refined over decades. Take the Congress’s “Garibi Hatao” slogan of 1971—Indira Gandhi’s promise to eradicate poverty won her a landslide, yet poverty rates barely budged, dropping from 56% in 1970 to 54% by 1980 (Planning Commission estimates). Fast forward to Gadkari, and we see the same script: bold promises, delayed deliveries, and a public that keeps buying the ticket. The difference? Gadkari adds a dash of infrastructure flair. With India’s highway network expanding 59% from 91,287 km in 2013-14 to 145,240 km in 2022-23 (Ministry of Road Transport), he sprinkles real progress into the illusion, making the fooling harder to spot but no less effective.

Why It Works: The Psychology of Hope

The genius lies in psychology. Gadkari taps into the Indian psyche’s eternal optimism. As

Puneet noted on X (June 10, 2025), despite the slipping deadlines, “roads are actually getting better”—37 km of highway built daily in 2020-21, a feat unmatched globally. Yet, logistical costs linger at 9% of GDP (down from 16%), far from the US’s 12%, exposing the gap between rhetoric and reality. This half-truth is the cornerstone of his art: offer a kernel of progress, cloak it in grandiosity, and watch the audience applaud the illusion. It’s not lying; it’s “paltering”—using truth to mislead, a tactic studied in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, where 50% of executives admitted to it in negotiations.

A Curriculum for the Ages

If fooling is an art, it’s time to institutionalize it. Imagine an IIT-IIM course: “MBA in Masterful Misdirection.” The syllabus could include:

• Module 1: Promise Crafting – Learn to set ambitious deadlines (e.g., American roads by 2027) and extend them with flair.
• Module 2: Data Judo – Spin statistics (e.g., 37 km/day highway construction) to dazzle while ignoring structural flaws like land acquisition delays.
• Module 3: Public Engagement – Master the art of humor and deflection, à la Gadkari’s urine-fertilized garden quips (Reuters, 2015).
• Module 4: Legacy Building – Study historical precedents like “Garibi Hatao” to perfect the long-game con.

Capstone projects could involve drafting a five-year plan to “make Indian skies rain gold” or “turn Delhi’s traffic into a ballet.” Internships with political spin doctors would seal the deal.

The Ethical Dilemma: Fooling or Leading?

Critics might cry foul, but let’s not be naive. Leadership often dances on the edge of deception. As UBC’s Erikson noted in CBC News (2015), fear and hope—tools of fooling—mobilize masses, though they’re short-lived motivators. Gadkari’s delays might frustrate, but his infrastructure push has tangible results. The question is: when does fooling cross into betrayal? When the 2027 deadline looms and roads remain a patchwork, will the applause turn to boos?

Conclusion: Embrace the Art

India’s fooling game is a cultural heirloom, and Gadkari is its modern Picasso. Rather than decry it, let’s educate ourselves in its nuances. An IIT-IIM course could turn this art into a science, producing leaders who fool with purpose—building roads, yes, but also building trust. Until then, enjoy the show, dear reader. Grab your popcorn, for the next deadline extension is surely just around the bend. Perhaps by 2030, we’ll drive on American roads—or at least laugh harder trying.